Page:Margaret Fuller by Howe, Julia Ward, Ed. (1883).djvu/228

Rh and sang him to sleep. The girl, Celeste, was beside herself with terror; and here we find recorded a touching trait of Ossoli, who soothed her with encouraging words, and touched all hearts with his fervent prayer. In the calm of resignation they now sat conversing with each other, devising last messages to friends, to be given by anyone of them who might survive the wrcek.

The crew had retired to the top gallant forecastle, and the passengers, hearing nothing of them, supposed them to have left the ship, By seven o'clock it became evident that the cabin could not hold together much longer, and M.s. Hasty, looking from the door for some way of esecape, saw a figure standing by the foremast, the space between being constaintly swept by the waves. She tried in vain to make herself heard; but the mate, Davis, coming to the door of the forecastle, saw her, and immediately ordered the men to go to her assistance. So great was the danger of doing this, that only two of the crew were willing to accompany him. The only refuge for the passengers was now in the forecastle, which, from its position and strength of construction, would be likely to resist longest the violence of the waves. By great effort and coolness the mate and his two companions reached the cabin, and rescued all in it from the destruction so nearly impending. Mrs. Hasty was the first to make the perilous attempt. She was Abashed into the hatchway, and besought the brave Davis to leave her to her fate; but he, otherwise minded, caught her long hair between his teeth, and, with true seaman's craft, saved her and himself. Angelo was carried across in a canvas bag hung to the neck of a sailor. Reaching the forecastle, they found a dry and sheltered spot, and wrapped themselves